There’s so much more to facility services than maintaining equipment
If you are on the lookout for a private K-12 facility services provider, you need a partner who will get the job done in a way that reduces your stress — someone who keeps things moving and adjusts to ever-changing circumstances without breaking a sweat.
You want them to be an extension of your team, someone who keeps people and processes connected without weighing you or your team down — while also actually meeting deadlines.
No, we are not mind readers. But we’ve been doing this long enough to know what matters to your private K-12 community.
We’ve drawn from our own experiences and successes to identify some key factors that should help you find a partner who fits the bill:
- K-12 campus expertise. You already know that the private K-12 campus is a unique environment. Do your potential FM provider truly understand this? Choosing a team that has experience in this space is crucial, because you want them to hit the ground running with a well-considered, tailored-to-you, proactive approach to the job.
- Prevention as a guiding principle. A speedy response to maintenance and cleaning needs is a major part of any FM team’s strategy, but the emphasis should be on strategies to stay ahead of preventable issues. Taking a proactive stance can lead to cost savings, increased efficiency, and operational excellence.
- Low to no turnover among staff. For a private K-12 community, familiar faces build trust, and longevity means truly getting to know your campus needs. If FM team members such as the cleaning crew are made up of a revolving roster of strangers, they undermine the sense of community at the foundation of your school.
- Pride in your school and the job. The right FM team will feel like part of your campus and tap into the distinctive cohesion that makes your school special. They’ll share in the sense of pride that that alumni, staff, teachers, and students feel. That makes the job personal. They care more. They work harder.
- Proactive and effective. An outstanding FM team will be an investment, not an expense. That’s because the FM provider will focus on proactive strategies, ongoing training for their team members, and partnership with the administration. All of those can increase efficiency and reduce overall costs.
Facility services is essential to ensuring that buildings are clean and the equipment runs well. But that should be just the starting point of your relationship.
An Experienced Partner Adds Value
For more insight, check out our blog post, 5 Things to Look for in a Facility Service Provider, and consider these factors when choosing your FM provider, even those who come in on a short-term basis.
As you strategize to keep your campus and community safe and healthy, don’t hesitate to reach out to UG2 to learn how we can help. Our pandemic-proven UG2 ReNewSM Cleaning4Health and Engineering4HealthSM programs are designed to ensure you have what you need, no matter what return-to-school strategy you’ve chosen. We have experience being part of private K-12 environments, and we take great pride in being part of the schools we serve.